Ok, who told me Cora would be better behaved when she turned 5??

[Nakia]

I know someone did. Well, you lied. :lol:

 

She has been 5 for 28 days, and she is still loud and wiggly and hyper and into EVERYTHING!!!! Of course, she is also dancing and singing and happy and sweet as pie! But whoa nellie, she wears me out!!! She is often disobedient and so rowdy. I know she is still very little, and we are working on it. My other two were just not like this (though, of course, they have their own "stuff"). I think she is part boy, lol.

 

Now, what exactly do you do with a chid who is naturally really loud? I am loud and several of my family members are loud, but I tell you, Cora can quiet a room. She is just soooooooo loud!! I CONSTANTLY remind her to use her inside voice, and she does, for about one sentence. I try to keep her focused, but it's like trying to focus Dorrie from Finding Nemo.

 

There is something else that is kinda nagging at me about her. She is constantly climbing on people and has her hands on them all.the.time. For example, she adores her Aunt Stephanie, and when Stephanie is around, Cora cannot keep her hands off her. She is constantly touching her hair and jewelry and climbing on her and LOUDLY talking to her nonstop. I know it makes Stephanie crazy after a while, and I pull Cora away or try to get her to sit calmly beside Steph, but I hate fussing at her the whole time. And she will do it the whole time Steph is here, even if it's 3 hours. Stephanie does remind her to calm down and talk quietly and she will also say, "You can sit on my lap, but you can't climb on me", so that is helpful for Cora to hear it from her. I tell you, this child is INTENSE!!!

 

Any advice? I feel like I've been asking for a lot of advice lately. Parenting is certainly not for wimps. Does this sound like normal 5 year old behavior? Like I said, my others didn't act this way. Patrick and I joke that we thought we were such good parents until Cora came along. :lol: Or could it be something more serious? Feel free to ask for clarification about anything I've posted if it would be helpful in giving me advice or suggestions.

 

Thanks!!

[Chris in VA]

Oh, what a joy and a challenge, all wrapped in one package!:D

 

Nakia, it could be completely normal.

 

Or, maybe, just maybe, she might have some sensory-seeking issues. What do you think?

[Nakia]

Oh, what a joy and a challenge, all wrapped in one package!:D

 

Nakia, it could be completely normal.

 

Or, maybe, just maybe, she might have some sensory-seeking issues. What do you think?

 

To be honest, I'm not familiar with the sensory issues. My middle daughter has some weird quirks, but not sensory issues. What would I look for that might point to something like that?

[Melinda in VT]

To be honest, I'm not familiar with the sensory issues. My middle daughter has some weird quirks, but not sensory issues. What would I look for that might point to something like that?

 

The Out of Sync Child is a great introduction to sensory issues. The lack of personal space boundaries reminds me of one of mine. I'm convinced she has vestibular and proprioception sensory issues, although she's never been officially evaluated.

[Nakia]

The Out of Sync Child is a great introduction to sensory issues. The lack of personal space boundaries reminds me of one of mine. I'm convinced she has vestibular and proprioception sensory issues, although she's never been officially evaluated.

 

Thank you, Melinda. My library has it, and I just requested a copy.

[gingersmom]

I would take her for an occupational therapy evaluation.

 

What is "cute" at age 5 is not so "cute" at 6 or 8 or 10.

[Nakia]

I would take her for an occupational therapy evaluation.

 

What is "cute" at age 5 is not so "cute" at 6 or 8 or 10.

 

Yeah, and it's not even cute at 5 really. I mean the singing and dancing certainly is, but the other stuff...not so much.

 

So would I need to start with my pediatrician and get a referral to the occupational therapist?

[JudoMom]

I know someone did. Well, you lied. :lol:

 

She has been 5 for 28 days, and she is still loud and wiggly and hyper and into EVERYTHING!!!! Of course, she is also dancing and singing and happy and sweet as pie! But whoa nellie, she wears me out!!! She is often disobedient and so rowdy. I know she is still very little, and we are working on it. My other two were just not like this (though, of course, they have their own "stuff"). I think she is part boy, lol.

 

Now, what exactly do you do with a chid who is naturally really loud? I am loud and several of my family members are loud, but I tell you, Cora can quiet a room. She is just soooooooo loud!! I CONSTANTLY remind her to use her inside voice, and she does, for about one sentence. I try to keep her focused, but it's like trying to focus Dorrie from Finding Nemo.

 

There is something else that is kinda nagging at me about her. She is constantly climbing on people and has her hands on them all.the.time. For example, she adores her Aunt Stephanie, and when Stephanie is around, Cora cannot keep her hands off her. She is constantly touching her hair and jewelry and climbing on her and LOUDLY talking to her nonstop. I know it makes Stephanie crazy after a while, and I pull Cora away or try to get her to sit calmly beside Steph, but I hate fussing at her the whole time. And she will do it the whole time Steph is here, even if it's 3 hours. Stephanie does remind her to calm down and talk quietly and she will also say, "You can sit on my lap, but you can't climb on me", so that is helpful for Cora to hear it from her. I tell you, this child is INTENSE!!!

 

Any advice? I feel like I've been asking for a lot of advice lately. Parenting is certainly not for wimps. Does this sound like normal 5 year old behavior? Like I said, my others didn't act this way. Patrick and I joke that we thought we were such good parents until Cora came along. :lol: Or could it be something more serious? Feel free to ask for clarification about anything I've posted if it would be helpful in giving me advice or suggestions.

 

Thanks!!

 

With some kids, you've got to take a long history to feel you're making any progress. My ds6 is one of these. He's a very intense, passionate kid. There is NO middle ground. Either he's happy and the birds are singing or he's sad/mad and the birds are pooping on his head. He's also very loud (his Sensei likes to remind me of the time he told ds6 to "use his inside voice" and I had to remind Sensei that "is his inside voice" :001_huh:). But he has a heart of gold.

 

When I compare where he is now (he'll be 7 tomorrow) to where he was when he was 4 or 5, I can see huge improvement. When I compare where he is now to where he was 1 month, 2 months, or even 6 months ago the improvement can seem almost non-existent. Consistency with him has been key (and knowing what battles to fight, and when to simply go for the tie with him).

 

So, I guess my question to you is--can you see improvement over time? Or are her troublesome behaviors staying consistent or getting worse?

[TXMomof4]

I would guess sensory issues as well. My dd was the same way - she did have some other more obvious issues as well - only wearing no seam socks, wearing only Hanna Andersson dresses because everything else was itchy, etc. The out of control play, jumpings, running, spinning, etc. was just another side of that. She is 7, almost 8 now and is very much more controlled with her behaviour. I can tell when she's tired or stressed though because she goes back to rough-housing like an insane child. Sitting down and rubbing her back very softly always calms her down.

 

We didn't have any therapy for her. Our dr. here looked at us like we were smoking crack when I suggested that maybe she was a little out of whack with her behaviour (Army doc - not a ped.). It was very hard right after we moved, but as she's settled in she has adjusted slowly.

[gingersmom]

Yeah, and it's not even cute at 5 really. I mean the singing and dancing certainly is, but the other stuff...not so much.

 

So would I need to start with my pediatrician and get a referral to the occupational therapist?

 

Start with your pediatrician. And do not take no for an answer. Not all pediatricians are that enlightened.

 

Also, if you are not happy with the first therapist you see/talk to, go seek another.

 

My son spent 8 years in occupational therapy. It was an amazingly good experience.

[Snickerdoodle]

Kids are notoriously difficult at age 4. Age 4 is terrible twos squared. I always said if you could just survive until they turn 5.

 

However, I also had a late bloomer. He was easier at 4 than at 5.

 

:grouphug::grouphug:

[LizzyBee]

I was probably one of those people, :D but my dd was about 5 1/2 when I realized how much easier she'd gotten. However, what is your definition of "better"? For us, it was the fact that we didn't have to have dd within arms' length at all times. Even if she was not within our view, we could reasonably trust that she was not doing something dangerous or destructive. She is still loud, wiggly, hyper, and distractible. But she has a natural desire to please, and that, combined with the reasoning capacity of an older child, has made life with her much easier than the first five years.

 

ETA: I just read the other posts and I agree about sensory issues. My dd didn't start OT until she was 7, but if we'd known then what we know now, we would have started sooner. OT didn't make a huge difference for her because her ADHD is worse than her SPD. But it was definitely one piece of the puzzle for her. Sports are really good for her, too. She plays basketball and takes Irish dancing lessons.

Edited January 27, 2011 by LizzyBee

[Nakia]

Instead of quoting everyone, let me try and just answer some questions in one thread.

 

It seems like one day she is better behaved and we can get through a day without her totally destroying something, and the next, we don't. The climbing and touching have actually gotten worse. The more stimulated she is, the more she jumps and yells and bounces and misbehaves. We absolutely cannot trust her alone in her room. I have to constantly check on here to make sure she isn't cutting off a doll's hair or coloring on the walls or climbing something. I do have her in dance and swimming to use up some of her energy, but that's not working. She doesn't seem to ever stop moving!!!

[LizzyBee]

Instead of quoting everyone, let me try and just answer some questions in one thread.

 

It seems like one day she is better behaved and we can get through a day without her totally destroying something, and the next, we don't. The climbing and touching have actually gotten worse. The more stimulated she is, the more she jumps and yells and bounces and misbehaves. We absolutely cannot trust her alone in her room. I have to constantly check on here to make sure she isn't cutting off a doll's hair or coloring on the walls or climbing something. I do have her in dance and swimming to use up some of her energy, but that's not working. She doesn't seem to ever stop moving!!!

 

A couple years ago at the GIFTSNC conference, a mother of a dyslexic boy was describing how he was in constant motion when he was younger. One time, they were in the kitchen and he was turning in circles. She asked him why he couldn't be still, and his answer was enlightening. I used to be able to quote it exactly, but anyway, it was something to the effect that the only time the world stopped moving was when he was moving.

 

When my dd gets overstimulated and crazy, I put her on my lap and wrap my arms around her tightly. It has a calming effect on her. Even though she's 9, I still occasionally have to do that when we have company and she gets overexcited.

 

Doing push-ups against the wall followed by jumping jacks, running a lap around the house, or jumping on the trampoline for 5 minutes sometimes helps too.

Edited January 27, 2011 by LizzyBee

[Cera]

Everyone told me my oldest would calm down at 5 and it didn't happen either. If anything she ramped up the behavior a bit. The good news is that she turned 6 three months ago and while she is still intense she has really calmed down a lot. She is finally understanding how she needs to behave and learning to wind herself down without outside intervention.

 

I found the "Your xxx year old" books by Ames very helpful for understanding her.

[TXMomof4]

Instead of quoting everyone, let me try and just answer some questions in one thread.

 

It seems like one day she is better behaved and we can get through a day without her totally destroying something, and the next, we don't. The climbing and touching have actually gotten worse. The more stimulated she is, the more she jumps and yells and bounces and misbehaves. We absolutely cannot trust her alone in her room. I have to constantly check on here to make sure she isn't cutting off a doll's hair or coloring on the walls or climbing something. I do have her in dance and swimming to use up some of her energy, but that's not working. She doesn't seem to ever stop moving!!!

 

This check list described my dd about 2 years ago. It's from the sensory processing disorder website.

 

 

 

2. Hyposensitivity To Movement (Under-Responsive):

 

 

 

 

__ in constant motion, can't seem to sit still

 

 

 

 

__ craves fast, spinning, and/or intense movement experiences

 

 

 

 

__ loves being tossed in the air

 

 

 

 

__ could spin for hours and never appear to be dizzy

 

 

 

 

__ loves the fast, intense, and/or scary rides at amusement parks

 

 

 

 

__ always jumping on furniture, trampolines, spinning in a swivel chair, or getting into upside down positions

 

 

 

 

__ loves to swing as high as possible and for long periods of time

 

 

 

 

__ is a "thrill-seeker"; dangerous at times

 

 

 

 

__ always running, jumping, hopping etc. instead of walking

 

 

 

 

__ rocks body, shakes leg, or head while sitting

 

 

 

 

__ likes sudden or quick movements, such as, going over a big bump in the car or on a bike

 

 

 

 

Edited January 27, 2011 by TXMomof4
to include link

[Nakia]

This check list described my dd about 2 years ago. It's from the sensory processing disorder website.

 

 

 

2. Hyposensitivity To Movement (Under-Responsive):

 

__ in constant motion, can't seem to sit still

 

__ craves fast, spinning, and/or intense movement experiences

 

__ loves being tossed in the air

 

__ could spin for hours and never appear to be dizzy

 

__ loves the fast, intense, and/or scary rides at amusement parks

 

__ always jumping on furniture, trampolines, spinning in a swivel chair, or getting into upside down positions

 

__ loves to swing as high as possible and for long periods of time

 

__ is a "thrill-seeker"; dangerous at times

 

__ always running, jumping, hopping etc. instead of walking

 

__ rocks body, shakes leg, or head while sitting

 

__ likes sudden or quick movements, such as, going over a big bump in the car or on a bike

 

 

 

:svengo: She fits every.single.one of those. Okay, got a call into the pediatrician. I don't think we will have any trouble getting the pediatrician to refer us. She is wonderful.

[MelanieM]

You might want to consider keeping a food journal for a while to see if there's a connection between particularly bad days and what she's been eating. A lot of kids are particularly sensitive to perservatives, food colouring, and artificial flavours. I've also read about connections between behaviour and dairy or gluten intolerance.

[Nakia]

You might want to consider keeping a food journal for a while to see if there's a connection between particularly bad days and what she's been eating. A lot of kids are particularly sensitive to perservatives, food colouring, and artificial flavours. I've also read about connections between behaviour and dairy or gluten intolerance.

 

She will eat anything and everything, and we eat really healthy for the most part, but I will go ahead and keep a food journal. She has some weird stomach issues as well that I planned to take her in for a month or so ago, but then Patrick had surgery, and, unfortunately it got pushed aside. So, I made her a 5 year old check-up appointment, and we will talk about the stomach stuff and the behavioral stuff and go from there.

[Teachin'Mine]

5? Did we say 5???

 

Must have been typos - typing at night it's challenging to see the numbers properly. We meant 6. Yeah - that's it - 6. :D

 

Obviously I have no advice, but I would begin to investigate regarding an assessment.

Edited January 27, 2011 by Teachin'Mine

[LibraryLover]

With sensory issues, very often the therapy includes gross motor play/physical therapy. You might be able to meet some of this need through play. Is there a place in your house you can hang a swing in winter, and a monkey bar? Can she ride her bike in a garage, jump on a trampoline, jump off a sofa into pillows? Is there snow outside that she can fall into, jump over, roll into snow people? Can you do controlled wresting? My PT kid loved to play wrestle with dh-- they did this daily for years. We'd clear out an area in the living room, and use a timer to start and stop the 'bouts'. You can ding the timer anytime it looks like it needs a break. My dh just basically was there and the kid rolled around and over him, and dh would gently bear hug etc. A child really can only do this so long..we thought it would go on forever..but no session lasted more than 20--30 minutes. The kid was exhausted, and it was a good exhusted. The child chose their wrestling name. It was Baskets of Books...yep. LOL We still laught about that. "And in this corner, we have Baskets of Books!" Hsers. :) Playing in the snow does the same thing. Dragging a sled up and down etc. Jumping in and out of water, too. There is a reason kids love this kind of activity.

 

You can also make various doughs...playdough, but also kneeding dough for bread-- that works well, and will keep her engaged. Of course it has to be surpervised, or you might have flour thrown, right? :) Can you walk places with her? Have her carry library books in a backpack, or a few not too -heavy items from the market in there? Think of all the ways you can get her moving where it's safe and appropriate. Massage can help, too. If a body massage is too stimulating, which it can be for some, a foot massage might be better.

 

I always think about the saying 'A good puppy is a tired puppy", and I think small children have a lot in common with puppies. :)

Edited January 27, 2011 by LibraryLover

[LizzyBee]

This check list described my dd about 2 years ago. It's from the sensory processing disorder website.

 

 

 

2. Hyposensitivity To Movement (Under-Responsive):

 

 

 

 

__ in constant motion, can't seem to sit still

 

 

 

 

__ craves fast, spinning, and/or intense movement experiences

 

 

 

 

__ loves being tossed in the air

 

 

 

 

__ could spin for hours and never appear to be dizzy

 

 

 

 

__ loves the fast, intense, and/or scary rides at amusement parks

 

 

 

 

__ always jumping on furniture, trampolines, spinning in a swivel chair, or getting into upside down positions

 

 

 

 

__ loves to swing as high as possible and for long periods of time

 

 

 

 

__ is a "thrill-seeker"; dangerous at times

 

 

 

 

__ always running, jumping, hopping etc. instead of walking

 

 

 

 

__ rocks body, shakes leg, or head while sitting

 

 

 

 

__ likes sudden or quick movements, such as, going over a big bump in the car or on a bike

 

 

 

 

 

One year, I wrote in my Christmas letter that K. has not learned to walk yet; she runs, hops, jumps, skips, and climbs, but she never walks. LOL.

 

One of our OTs told us that the spinning without getting dizzy is a sign of an underdeveloped vestibular system.

 

Sometimes I wonder what she will do as an adult - drive fast, sky dive, bungee jump? I know some thrill seekers end up addicted to drugs and I just pray she never goes down that road.

[LizzyBee]

With sensory issues, very often the therapy includes gross motor play/physical therapy. You might be able to meet some of this need through play. Is there a place in your house you can hang a swing in winter, and a monkey bar? Can she ride her bike in a garage, jump on a trampoline, jump off a sofa into pillows? Is there snow outside that she can fall into, jump over, roll into snow people? Can you do controlled wresting? My PT kid loved to play wrestle with dh-- they did this daily for years. We'd clear out an area in the living room, and use a timer to start and stop the 'bouts'. You can ding the timer anytime it looks like it needs a break. My dh just basically was there and the kid rolled around and over him, and dh would gently bear hug etc. A child really can only do this so long..we thought it would go on forever..but no session lasted more than 20--30 minutes. The kid was exhausted, and it was a good exhusted. The child chose their wrestling name. It was Baskets of Books...yep. LOL We still laught about that. "And in this corner, we have Baskets of Books!" Hsers. :) Playing in the snow does the same thing. Dragging a sled up and down etc. Jumping in and out of water, too. There is a reason kids love this kind of activity.

 

You can also make various doughs...playdough, but also kneeding dough for bread-- that works well, and will keep her engaged. Of course it has to be surpervised, or you might have flour thrown, right? :) Can you walk places with her? Have her carry library books in a backpack, or a few not too -heavy items from the market in there? Think of all the ways you can get her moving where it's safe and appropriate. Massage can help, too. If a body massage is too stimulating, which it can be for some, a foot massage might be better.

 

I always think about the saying 'A good puppy is a tired puppy", and I think small children have a lot in common with puppies. :)

 

Another thing my dd liked was a bowl of rice and a bowl of beans, along with funnels, measuring cups, etc. She will still occasionally get one of those bowls out to play with.

[Melinda in VT]

One year, I wrote in my Christmas letter that K. has not learned to walk yet; she runs, hops, jumps, skips, and climbs, but she never walks. LOL.

 

One of our OTs told us that the spinning without getting dizzy is a sign of an underdeveloped vestibular system.

 

Sometimes I wonder what she will do as an adult - drive fast, sky dive, bungee jump? I know some thrill seekers end up addicted to drugs and I just pray she never goes down that road.

 

I think I had an underdeveloped vestibular system as a child (nothing like figuring out your kids' issues to point to your own :lol:), and I have become quite risk adverse as an adult.

[Nakia]

With sensory issues, very often the therapy includes gross motor play/physical therapy. You might be able to meet some of this need through play. Is there a place in your house you can hang a swing in winter, and a monkey bar? Can she ride her bike in a garage, jump on a trampoline, jump off a sofa into pillows? Is there snow outside that she can fall into, jump over, roll into snow people? Can you do controlled wresting? My PT kid loved to play wrestle with dh-- they did this daily for years. We'd clear out an area in the living room, and use a timer to start and stop the 'bouts'. You can ding the timer anytime it looks like it needs a break. My dh just basically was there and the kid rolled around and over him, and dh would gently bear hug etc. A child really can only do this so long..we thought it would go on forever..but no session lasted more than 20--30 minutes. The kid was exhausted, and it was a good exhusted. The child chose their wrestling name. It was Baskets of Books...yep. LOL We still laught about that. "And in this corner, we have Baskets of Books!" Hsers. :) Playing in the snow does the same thing. Dragging a sled up and down etc. Jumping in and out of water, too. There is a reason kids love this kind of activity.

 

You can also make various doughs...playdough, but also kneeding dough for bread-- that works well, and will keep her engaged. Of course it has to be surpervised, or you might have flour thrown, right? :) Can you walk places with her? Have her carry library books in a backpack, or a few not too -heavy items from the market in there? Think of all the ways you can get her moving where it's safe and appropriate. Massage can help, too. If a body massage is too stimulating, which it can be for some, a foot massage might be better.

 

I always think about the saying 'A good puppy is a tired puppy", and I think small children have a lot in common with puppies. :)

 

Good advice!! Thanks! We don't have a garage or room for a monkey bar or swing, but we do have a trampoline that she loves. She wrestles with daddy most every night. She is in dance and swimming classes. And we have had plenty of snow to play in. I do let her jump on the sofa pillow sometimes, but to be honest, that makes me cringe. She loves jumping off the furniture. :lol: She loves to have her back scratched and rubbed, so that is something I do when she gets too hyper to help her calm down. Sometimes it works.

[ondreeuh]

Hyperactivity + poor impulse control = a look at ADHD.

 

It definitely could be sensory (hyposensitivity), in which case OT can give you some ideas. There are techniques (brushing & joint compressions, squeezy neoprene vests, weighted blankets) that give the body the feedback it craves.

 

ADHD can look an awful lot like sensory issues, though. Either way, this is not just a behavior issue if it is really beyond her control. There are people who will insist that she can learn to control herself but it's much more complicated than that.

 

My 9 y/o was the same as you describe Cora, and my 3 y/o is following the same path. The 9 y/o is definitely ADHD and has been medically treated since he was 5.

 

I work on behavior management with the 3 y/o on the big things (screaming, jumping off furniture, defiance, etc.) and let the little stuff slide. He's allowed to run in circles and be loud. Asking him to not be loud and active would be way too much of an expectation for this kid. In the meantime, I don't take him to restaurants.

 

There are a lot of very vocal people who believe little kids can ALL learn to be still and quiet. There are also a lot of very vocal people who believe that ADHD is overdiagnosed, and that most of those kids are just "normal, active kids" who are being expected to be little adults. I'm judged by both sides. ;)

[Nakia]

Hyperactivity + poor impulse control = a look at ADHD.

 

It definitely could be sensory (hyposensitivity), in which case OT can give you some ideas. There are techniques (brushing & joint compressions, squeezy neoprene vests, weighted blankets) that give the body the feedback it craves.

 

ADHD can look an awful lot like sensory issues, though. Either way, this is not just a behavior issue if it is really beyond her control. There are people who will insist that she can learn to control herself but it's much more complicated than that.

 

My 9 y/o was the same as you describe Cora, and my 3 y/o is following the same path. The 9 y/o is definitely ADHD and has been medically treated since he was 5.

 

I work on behavior management with the 3 y/o on the big things (screaming, jumping off furniture, defiance, etc.) and let the little stuff slide. He's allowed to run in circles and be loud. Asking him to not be loud and active would be way too much of an expectation for this kid. In the meantime, I don't take him to restaurants.

 

There are a lot of very vocal people who believe little kids can ALL learn to be still and quiet. There are also a lot of very vocal people who believe that ADHD is overdiagnosed, and that most of those kids are just "normal, active kids" who are being expected to be little adults. I'm judged by both sides. ;)

 

Thank you so much. You voiced my concerns exactly. I have wondered if she might have ADHD since she was around 2 or 3. But I really don't want my child to be labeled or medicated, you know? But I absolutely believe ADHD is real and meds are miracles for some kids. I am really looking forward to seeing what our ped says.

 

I honestly feel like sometimes Cora cannot control what she is doing. I know 5 year old have a hard time with that anyway, but she it's like she knows what I'm asking her to do but can't do it sometimes. And she is dying to do school, so I got her a bunch of preschool workbooks. She whipped through one of them in literally 20 minutes spread over two days. The entire workbook. That was in October. Now I am getting ready to start MFW K with her. She can't sit still for longer than 10 minutes, so we will see how that goes.

 

 

Thanks again, everyone, for the support and suggestions.

[fairfarmhand]

Now I am getting ready to start MFW K with her. She can't sit still for longer than 10 minutes, so we will see how that goes.

 

 

Thanks again, everyone, for the support and suggestions.

 

Who says she has to sit still? My dd does half her work hanging upside down off the couch. Read- alouds??? we must have slinkies, dough, blocks. etc to get through them

[Nakia]

Who says she has to sit still? My dd does half her work hanging upside down off the couch. Read- alouds??? we must have slinkies, dough, blocks. etc to get through them

 

Well, I know she doesn't have to sit still for her schoolwork, and at the age of 5, I'm very unconcerned with her doing school at all. I was just providing another example of her behavior. The fact that she cannot do anything for longer than 10 minutes is probably abnormal at this age, right?

[TXMomof4]

Normal is so relative!

 

DD still does her math and reading on an exercise ball. I don't know how she can possibly read while bouncing up and down - but she does. The chaos of trying to get her to sit still and read isn't worth the effort. Math facts are much easier in rhythm. I don't honestly know how she'd function sitting at a desk trying to do school. But - it has gotten so much better.

 

Another thing - when dd was little she *loved* strawberry milk. She was also having rages - screaming, crying, unable to calm down - pure hysteria. Someone said somethign about red dye and we weaned her off of that. The change was magical almost. I can tell now if she's had kool-aid, candy with artificial colors, anything with the red thows her into an absolute tail-spin behavior-wise. The bouncing, constant movement isn't a behaviour problem in my book. It's aggravating, but she isn't being 'bad', just wiggly. The other was a definite imapact on behaviour.

 

I just count my blessings that out of 4 kids, she's the only one with real issues, and they are completely manageable. KWIM?

[LibraryLover]

These are great thougts. I esp like the bold, esp in kids so young. Meds are great, if you need them. If some issues can be handled without them, that is also great. Nakia-- have you seen this? Kinda spendy, but ime, so are PT co-pays. ;)

 

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=5817

 

 

Normal is so relative!

 

DD still does her math and reading on an exercise ball. I don't know how she can possibly read while bouncing up and down - but she does. The chaos of trying to get her to sit still and read isn't worth the effort. Math facts are much easier in rhythm. I don't honestly know how she'd function sitting at a desk trying to do school. But - it has gotten so much better.

The bouncing, constant movement isn't a behaviour problem in my book. It's aggravating, but she isn't being 'bad', just wiggly. The other was a definite imapact on behaviour.

 

I just count my blessings that out of 4 kids, she's the only one with real issues, and they are completely manageable. KWIM?

Edited January 27, 2011 by LibraryLover

[mktkcb]

Oh yes, I'm with the others. Read the book.

[ElizabethB]

She will eat anything and everything, and we eat really healthy for the most part, but I will go ahead and keep a food journal. She has some weird stomach issues as well that I planned to take her in for a month or so ago, but then Patrick had surgery, and, unfortunately it got pushed aside. So, I made her a 5 year old check-up appointment, and we will talk about the stomach stuff and the behavioral stuff and go from there.

 

With my food allergies, things did not change until I completely eliminated them for a week. Only then, when I added things back in one at a time, could I see an effect from a food...but it made a big difference mentally and physically what I was eating. I also ate well and healthily. One of my early symptoms was stomach problems.

 

It's a cumulative effect with the food, and also, a tiny bit of the food causes a reaction--there are millions of allergens in one bit of food. Almost any processed food has at least of bit of soy, corn, wheat, or milk in it.

 

The skin and blood tests for allergens are also not that accurate for food.